XBOX 360 HD-DVD Addon. FIFTY BUX at Best Buy

Wow... Microsoft don' waste time!

I guess now's a good time for me to join the bandwagon & stick this next to my htpc... Until xbox 360 goes 65 watts in their cpu (along with their RROD issues resolved), I'll use this for my pc, using WINDVD Media Suite.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8132095&type=product&id=1158321865239&&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=25&loc=PGR&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=09-59214396-2

[Post edited by xplaytendo on Feb 25, 2008]

kewl, time to take my receipt to BB and get my $70 back.

Is it possible to hook this up to a PC? I might buy one just for a HD-DVD player in my bedroom.

I believe it will ONLY play HD DVD's on a PC, if you are running Windows Vista - and you will need an HD DVD decoder, as well! I did some extensive research, to see if I could use it with my PC running Windows XP Pro - no dice.

Someone might create an HD DVD decoder for it to run on Windows XP, as there is ALWAYS someone trying to do stuff like that.

It does function as an external DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive just fine, though. It's worth the price to pick it up, if for no other reason... to have a "spare" 360 HD DVD drive. If you can get a friend or relative to accept the FREE HD DVD's at his (or her) home... you can get some alternate titles, too!

XPLAYTENDO... I don't know if you saw my other post, but the newer XBOX 360 consoles with the "Falcon" chip are the ones to get - if you're trying to avoid the RRoD deal. My original 360 consoles both died from the RRoD (I still got it repaired under warranty for free), but I bought a newer 360 Elite, and it runs a LOT COOLER and QUIETER (quieter, when there's no game disc spinning in the drive).

I am going to sell my old console very cheap. It works, it's STILL under warranty... but I'm done playing Microsoft's endless repair cycle with it! It WAS rebuilt and they improved the cooling of the unit, but I'm not going to keep using it with my fingers crossed. I will inform the next owner about the RRoD syndrome and suggest re-upping the extended warranty. It's fine as a secondary console, but if it's your ONLY console... that would be frustrating!

[Post edited by Veteran-Viewer on Feb 25, 2008]

It is possible, if you have Vista (so I read) you can only plug and Vista will DL the drivers for it. All you'll need now is a HD-DVD Media Player. I've heard WinDVD 8 is a good one. I'm yet to try it because unless you already have one (HD Media Player) they are expensive to buy ($80-$90).



Also Cybeelink PowerDVD does play HD-DVD:

I just remember too, Cyberlink has a BD/HD Advisor which scans your system and tells you if your PC meets the requirements to use and run HD-DVD players and software. Try it out, click on the link I provided.

Will the add-on work with Windows XP?

It does, on the first picture the person has XP, but like I say, the key thing is to meet the system's requirements. Vista is better because I've read that automaticaly DL all the drivers for the XBOX add-on, while I've read that with XP the user has to DL manually some of them. Try the advisor from Cyberlink that is the best way to know for sure.

Well... that BD/HD checker confirmed what I already knew at this point - it will not run on my system with Windows XP (Pro). However... my video card is not state-of-the-art (GeForceFX 5700LE w/ 256MB VRAM) and I only have 512MB of system ram (right now). I'm also only using a 2GHz machine, and I'm pretty sure I need at least 3Ghz or better, so I would suggest that a PC (using Windows XP Pro) with 3GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM and fairly decent video card (equivalent to or better than a GeForce 6200 w/256MB VRAM) might be capable. This assuming an HD DVD software player will run on XP! Windows WILL detect the HD DVD add-on drive and install the driver for it (functions as an external DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive for my system).

Incidentally... that advisor program made my computer reset each time I ran it (which was twice - and with no test results either time), so I deleted it after that!

[Post edited by Veteran-Viewer on Feb 25, 2008]